LyondellBasell adds new production at Knapsack creating world’s largest polypropylene compounding facility
ROTTERDAM and HOUSTON - LyondellBasell today announced its Knapsack, Germany site is now the world’s largest polypropylene compounding facility. The manufacturing site earned the new title with the startup of its fifth production line. The new total annual production capacity for the site is more than 200 kilotons (kt) per year, with the added line capacity of 25 kt per year.
This is the latest in a series of debottlenecking projects in LyondellBasell’s polypropylene compounding plants in Europe to support growing demand.
“Our polypropylene materials are helping to increase fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions by aiding in the light weighting of automobiles,” said Frank Noeltgen, Senior Director APS Business Europe. “The development of electric vehicles where components are needed for battery packs and under-the-hood applications is expected to support this trend.”
LyondellBasell remains a leader in supplying lightweight polymers to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 customers, or visually appealing and durable materials for automotive and electrical appliance applications.
The new product is already getting the attention of OEMs due to its lightweight benefits that will help manufacturers meet the European Commission’s requirements by significantly reduce their CO2 emissions for future vehicle models. Products also provide a high-quality finish, scratch performance, and high ultraviolet resistance. For example, Audi’s new Q5 model uses LyondellBasell’s Hifax product series for a spoiler component in its front bumper.
The expansion of the Knapsack plant is the latest in a series of debottlenecking projects in LyondellBasell’s polypropylene compounding plants in Europe, which supports growing demand. The facility is an important addition to LyondellBasell’s Advanced Polymer Solutions (APS) global business including Milton Keynes and Warrington, UK; Kerpen and Bayreuth, Germany; Dungguan, China; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Tarragona, Spain; Senai Malaysia; Sumare, Brazil; and Evansville, Indiana in the United States.
Approximately 160 LyondellBasell employees are working in Knapsack. With the expansion of the new production line, another 12 jobs were added.
Categories
Investments
Countries
Companies
Latest news
Technip Energies awarded two services contracts for first-of-a-kind waste-to-methanol Ecoplanta project in Spain
Chemmed Cluster Tarragona →Technip Energies (PARIS:TE) has been awarded two engineering services contracts by Repsol for the development of the Ecoplanta Molecular Recycling Solutions (Ecoplanta) project, a first-of-a-kind w...
Heidelberg Materials takes Final Investment Decision for CCS project in UK – construction will start this year
The project in North Wales will make Heidelberg Materials’ Padeswood site the company’s second plant to deliver net-zero carbon captured evoZero® cement to customers across Europe
INEOS Styrolution marks milestone with first commercial delivery of recycled styrene monomer from Indaver
Port Of Antwerp →Recycled styrene monomer produced via depolymerisation now delivered at scale. Enables high-quality styrenics, including for food-grade and medical applications. Adds chemically recycled material t...
Borealis’ new compounding line in Belgium offers premium recyclate-based polyolefins
Borealis’ new compounding line in Beringen, Belgium, is now fully operational, providing high-quality, recyclate-containing polyolefin solutions for demanding applications in line with customer req...